One-time-use camera with multi-adapter fixture for motor and self timer

ABSTRACT

A camera to be used with a film advance motor and/or a self timer, comprising a main body part having an engageable portion, and a single-piece multi-adapter fixture having an engageable portion constructed to be connected with the engageable portion of the main body part to secure the single-piece multi-adapter fixture to the main body part, having another separate portion constructed to hold the film advance motor, and having another separate portion constructed to hold the self timer, in order to support the film advance motor and/or the self timer on the main body part to permit the camera to be used either with the film advance motor or the self timer or with the film advance motor and the self timer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and inparticular to cameras with a motor and/or a self timer. Morespecifically, the invention relates to a one-time-use camera with amulti-adapter fixture that allows a camera manufacturer to readily add amotor and/or self timer to a one-time-use camera and permits removal ofthe motor and/or self timer from the one-time-use camera, in order torecycle the motor and self timer, after the one-time-use camera is used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Film and cameras that are all in one, commonly referred to as single-useor one-time-use cameras, have become well known. Typically, theone-time-use camera is a simple point-and-shoot type comprising aplastic main body part which supports a conventional film cartridge in acartridge receiving chamber, an unexposed film roll in another chamber,a fixed-focus taking lens, a film metering mechanism with a rotatablysupported metering sprocket that engages the filmstrip, a manuallyrotatable film winding thumbwheel rotatably engaged with a film spoolinside the film cartridge, a single-blade shutter, a manuallydepressible shutter release button, a rotatable exposure or framecounter for indicating the number of exposures remaining to be made onthe filmstrip, a direct see-through viewfinder, and in some models anelectronic flash. A pair of plastic front and rear cover parts house themain body part between them to complete the camera unit. The rear coverpart connects to the main body part and/or to the front cover part tomake the main body part light-tight. A decorative cardboard outer box orlabel at least partially covers the camera unit and has respectiveopenings for the taking lens, etc.

After each picture is taken with the one-time-use camera, thephotographer manually rotates the thumbwheel in a film winding directionto similarly rotate the film spool inside the film cartridge. This windsan exposed section of the filmstrip into the film cartridge. Therewinding movement of the filmstrip the equivalent of slightly more thanone frame width rotates the metering sprocket in engagement with thefilmstrip to decrement the exposure counter to its next lower-numberedsetting and to pivot a metering lever into engagement with thethumbwheel in order to prevent further manual rotation of thethumbwheel. Manually depressing the shutter release button to takeanother picture pivots the metering lever out of engagement with thethumbwheel to permit renewed rotation of the thumbwheel. When themaximum number of exposures available on the filmstrip have been made,and the filmstrip is completely wound into the film cartridge, theone-time-use camera is given to a photofinisher who tears the outer boxoff the camera unit, separates the rear cover part from the main bodypart, and removes the film cartridge with the exposed filmstrip from thecartridge receiving chamber. Then, he removes the exposed filmstrip fromthe film cartridge to develop the negatives and make prints for thecustomer. At least some of the used camera parts may be recycled, i.e.reused, to remanufacture the camera.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,945 issued Oct. 15, 1996 suggests adding afilm winding motor to the one-time-use camera in place of thethumbwheel. The motor is connected to the main body part, adjacent thecartridge receiving chamber, and can be disconnected from the main bodypart to be recycled after the one-time camera is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A camera to be used with a film advance motor and/or a self timer,comprising:

a main body part having an engageable portion; and

a single-piece multi-adapter fixture having an engageable portionconstructed to be connected with the engageable portion of the main bodypart to secure the single-piece multi-adapter fixture to the main bodypart, having another separate portion constructed to hold the filmadvance motor, and having another separate portion constructed to holdthe self timer, in order to support the film advance motor and/or theself timer on the main body part to permit the camera to be used eitherwith the film advance motor or the self timer or with the film advancemotor and the self timer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a single-piece multi-adapterfixture for supporting a film advance motor and/or a self timer in acamera, and a self timer to be assembled to the multi-adapter fixture,according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the self timer;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the camera and themulti-adapter fixture with the self timer assembled to the multi-adapterfixture;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view similar to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view similar to FIG. 4, showingmanual depression of a manual shutter release;

FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view similar to FIG. 4, showing theself timer being manually set for operation;

FIG. 7 is a an assembled perspective view similar to FIG. 6, showingmanual depression of the manual shutter release when the self timer isset for operation;

FIG. 8 is a an assembled perspective view similar to FIG. 6, showingoperation of the self timer;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-adapter fixture andthe film advance motor to be assembled to the multi-adapter fixture;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the camera and themulti-adapter fixture with the film advance motor assembled to themulti-adapter fixture;

FIG. 11 is an assembled perspective view similar to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the camera and themulti-adapter fixture with the self timer and the film advance motorassembled to the multi-adapter fixture; and

FIG. 13 is an assembled perspective view similar to FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is disclosed as being embodied preferably in a onetime-usecamera. Because the features of a one-time-use camera are generallyknown, the description which follows is directed in particular only tothose elements forming part of or cooperating directly with thedisclosed embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that otherelements may take various forms known to a person of ordinary skill inthe art.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 3 partially shows a one-time-usecamera 10 including a main body part 12. The main body part 12 has oneend portion 14 that defines a rearwardly open cartridge receivingchamber (not shown) and another end portion 16 that defines an unexposedfilm roll chamber (not shown). A front exposure aperture 18 is locatedbetween the end portions 14 and 16 for admitting ambient light to exposesuccessive sections of a filmstrip (not shown) originally stored in rollform in the unexposed film roll chamber. A film winding thumbwheel 20 isrotatably supported in coaxial engagement with the film spool in a filmcartridge (not shown) within the cartridge receiving chamber to windeach exposed section of the filmstrip into the film cartridge. Anexposure counter 22 provides a current count of the film sections thatremain to be exposed.

A known shutter blade (not shown) is pivotally supported on the mainbody part 12 for pivotal opening and closing movement to momentarilyuncover and then recover the exposure aperture 18 to expose each filmsection. A torsion return spring (not shown) urges the shutter blade torecover the exposure aperture 18. Opening movement of the shutter bladewould be clockwise in FIG. 3, and closing movement of the shutter bladewould be counter-clockwise in FIG. 3

A shutter release component 24, shown in FIG. 3, is secured to the mainbody part 12 and has a resilient cantilevered beam 26 with a free endthat is a manually depressible shutter release button 28. An actuatingfinger 30 depends from the cantilevered beam 26 to extend behind aright-angled tab 32 on a known metering lever 34. The metering lever 34is pivotally supported on the main body part 12 and normally engages aknown spring-driven high energy lever 36, pivotally supported on themain body part, to hold the high energy lever against the spring urging.As viewed in FIG. 5, when the shutter release button 28 is manuallydepressed, the cantilevered beam 26 is bent (beginning at the shutterrelease button) to make the actuating finger 30 swing counter-clockwiseand in turn pivot the metering lever 34 counter-clockwise. When themetering lever 34 is pivoted counter-clockwise, it releases the highenergy lever 36 which then briefly strikes the shutter blade (not shown)to pivot the shutter blade open to uncover the exposure aperture 18. Thetorsion return spring (not shown) for the shutter blade pivots theshutter blade closed to recover the exposure aperture 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a single-piece multi-adapter fixture ormount 38 can be secured to the end portion 14 of the main body part 12by means of two integral projections 40 and 42 on the end portion thatextend through respective holes 44 and 46 in the multi-adapter fixture.The two projections 40 and 42 can be simultaneously removed from therespective holes 44 and 46 to easily separate the multi-adapter fixture38 from the end portion 14, to permit the multi-adapter fixture to berecycled after the one-time-use camera 10 is used.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a known timer 48 includes a base plate 50 withtwo integral arms 52 and 54 that are fit into respective recesses 56 and58 in the multi-adapter fixture 38 to secure the timer to themulti-adapter fixture. Preferably, when the timer 48 is to be includedin the one-time-use camera 10, it is secured to the multi-adapterfixture 38 before the multi-adapter fixture is secured to the endportion 14 of the main body part 12. See FIG. 3. The two arms 52 and 54can be simultaneously removed from the respective recesses 56 and 58 toeasily separate the timer 48 from the multi-adapter fixture 38, topermit the timer 48 to be recycled after the one-time-use camera 10 isused. See FIG. 1. Several meshing gears are rotationally supported onthe base plate 50. These are a timer gear 60 that is urged clockwise inFIGS. 1 and 2 by a torsion return spring (not shown), a first piniongear 62 in mesh with the timer gear, a first spur gear 64 coaxial withthe first pinion gear, a second pinion 66 gear in mesh with the firstspur gear, a second spur gear 68 coaxial with the second pinion gear, athird pinion gear 70 in mesh with the second spur gear, a third spurgear 72 coaxial with the third pinion gear, a fourth pinion gear 74 inmesh with the third spur gear, and a fifth spur gear 76 coaxial with thefourth pinion gear. See FIG. 2. An escapement 78 is pivotally supportedon the base plate 50 to pivot back and forth into engagement with thefifth spur gear 76.

A setting slide 80 has respective slots 82 and 84 in which are located aprojection 86 on the base plate 50 and a projection 88 on themulti-adapter fixture 38, to permit translation of the setting slide inforward and reverse directions indicated by the arrows 90 in FIG. 6 and92 in FIG. 8. The setting slide 80 is secured to the multi-adapterfixture 38 when the timer 48 is to be included on the multi-adapterfixture. See FIGS. 3 and 4. The two projections 86 and 88 can besimultaneously removed from the respective slots 82 and 84 to easilyseparate the setting slide 80 from the multi-adapter fixture 38, topermit the setting slide to be recycled after the one-time-use camera 10is used. See FIG. 1.

When a knob 94 is manually pushed in the forward direction 90, as shownin FIG. 6, the setting slide 80 is similarly moved to a cocked position,shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which a catch 96 on a resilient cantileveredbeam 98 of the multi-adapter fixture 38 engages one end 100 of thesetting slide to prevent the setting slide from being returned in thereverse direction 92. As the setting slide 80 is translated in theforward direction 90 to its cocked position, a right-angled extension102 of the setting slide in continuous engagement with a lug 104 on thetimer gear 60 rotates (i.e. winds up) the timer gear counter-clockwise126° in FIG. 6 against the contrary urging of the torsion return spring(not shown) for the timer gear and a hook 106 on the setting slide ismoved from a closer side 108 of a follower 110 on the actuating finger30 to a farther side 112 of the follower (i.e. closer to and fartherfrom the hook before the hook is moved). Since the hook 106 has beenmoved past (beyond) the farther side 112 of the follower 110, theshutter release button 28 can be manually depressed to pivot theactuating finger 30 counter-clockwise in FIG. 7 and cause the highenergy lever 36 to briefly strike the shutter blade (not shown) to pivotthe shutter blade open to momentarily uncover the exposure aperture 18.This is shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively as shown in FIG. 8, a settingrelease button 114 at a free end of the cantilevered beam 98 can bemanually depressed to separate the catch 96 from the end 100 of thesetting slide 80. Consequently, the torsion return spring for the timergear 60 rotates (i.e. winds down) the timer gear clockwise 126° in FIG.8 for about 12 seconds to translate the setting slide 80 in the reversedirection 92 and cause the hook 106 to bear against the farther side 112of the follower 110 and pivot the actuating finger 30 counter-clockwisein FIG. 8 and cause the high energy lever 36 to briefly strike theshutter blade (not shown) to pivot the shutter blade open to momentarilyuncover the exposure aperture 18.

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the multi-adapter fixture 38 has an open pocket116 for receiving a direct current film advance motor 118 and a pair ofaligned cradle slots 120 and 122 for receiving respective coaxial shaftends 124 and 126 to rotatably support a combination gear 128.Preferably, when the film advance motor 118 is to be included in theone-time-use camera 10, the film advance motor is inserted into thepocket 116 and the shaft ends 124 and 126 are inserted into the cradleslots 120 and 122 before the multi-adapter fixture 38 is secured to theend portion 14 of the main body part 12. See FIG. 10. A worm gear 130,which the film advance motor 118 directly rotates, meshes with a gearring 132 of the combination gear 128 to in turn rotate the combinationgear. A face gear 134 of the combination gear 128 meshes with a toothedperiphery 136 of the film winding thumbwheel 20 to rotate the thumbwheelto in turn rotate the film spool in the film cartridge (not shown)within the cartridge receiving chamber to wind each exposed section ofthe filmstrip into the film cartridge. See FIG. 11. The film advancemotor 118 can be easily removed from the pocket 116 to permit the motorto be recycled after the one-time-use camera 10 is used. Similarly, theshaft ends 124 and 126 of the combination gear 128 can be easily removedfrom the cradle slots 120 and 122 to permit the combination gear to berecycled after the one-time-use camera 10 is used. See FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the multi-adapter fixture 38 has an integralprojection 138 that is received in a hole 140 in a motor on/off switch142 and a hole 144 that receives a projection (not shown) on theunderside of the motor on/off switch to secure the motor on/off switchto the multi-adapter fixture when the film advance motor 118 is to beincluded on the multi-adapter fixture. The projection 138 can be removedfrom the hole 140 and the other projection can be removed from the hole144 to easily separate the motor on/off switch 142 from themulti-adapter fixture 38, to permit the motor on/off switch to berecycled after the one-time-use camera 10 is used. See FIG. 9. The motoron/off switch 142 has a resilient switch contact 146 that is inherentlyurged against a stationary switch contact 148 to close the motor on/offswitch. Separation of the resilient switch contact 146 from thestationary switch contact 148 opens the motor on/off switch 142. Themotor on/off switch 142 has one lead 150 connected to the positiveterminal of a battery (not shown) and another lead 152 connected to thefilm advance motor 118. The film advance motor 118 is separatelyconnected to the negative terminal of the battery. When the motor on/offswitch 142 is closed, the film advance motor 118 is powered on. When themotor on/off switch 142 is opened, the film advance motor 118 isdeactivated.

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the multi-adapter fixture 38 has an integralprojection 154 that is received in a hole 156 in a switch actuator 158to pivotally support the switch actuator on the multi-adapter fixturewhen the film advance motor 118 is to be included on the multi-adapterfixture. The projection 154 can be removed from the hole 156 to easilyseparate the switch actuator 158 from the multi-adapter fixture 38, topermit the switch actuator to be recycled after the one-time-use camera10 is used. See FIG. 9. A torsion spring 160 biases the switch actuator158 to hold a projection 162 on the switch actuator continuously againsta cam surface (not shown) on the metering lever 34. A tab (not shown) onthe underside of the switch actuator 158 abuts a block-like free end 164of the resilient switch contact 162 to hold the resilient switch contactseparated from the stationary switch contact 148, to maintain the motoron/off switch 142 open. When the metering lever 34 is pivotedcounter-clockwise in FIG. 11, and the shutter blade (not shown) has beenclosed to recover the exposure aperture 18, the cam surface on themetering lever pivots the switch actuator 158 clockwise in FIG. 9 toretract the tab on the switch actuator from against the block-like freeend 164 of the resilient switch contact 146. This allows the resilientswitch 146 contact to move against the stationary switch contact 148 toclose the motor on/off switch 142 to in turn power on the film advancemotor 118. When the metering lever 34 is pivoted clockwise back to itsoriginal position in FIG. 11, the cam surface on the metering leverpivots the switch actuator 158 counter-clockwise in FIG. 9 to return thetab on the switch actuator against the block-like free end 164 of theresilient switch contact 146 and separate the resilient switch contactfrom the stationary switch contact 148 to re-open the motor on/offswitch 142 and deactivate the film advance motor 118.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the timer 48 and the film advance motor 118can both be included in the one-time-use camera 10.

Thus, the multi-adapter fixture 38 allows a camera manufacturer toreadily add the film advance motor 118 and/or the self timer 48 to theone-time-use camera 10 and permits removal of the film advance motorand/or the self timer from the one-time-use camera, in order to recyclethe motor and self timer, after the one-time-use camera is used.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations andmodifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

PARTS LIST

10. one-time-use camera

12. main body part

14. one end portion

16. another end portion

18. front exposure aperture

20. film winding thumbwheel

22. exposure counter

24. shutter release component

26. cantilevered beam

28. shutter release button

30. actuating finger

32. right-angled tab

34. metering lever

36. high energy lever

38. single-piece multi-adapter fixture or mount

40. projection

42. projection

44. hole

46. hole

48. timer

50. base plate

52. arm

54. arm

56. recess

58. recess

60. timer gear

62. first pinion gear

64. first spur gear

66. second pinion gear

68. second spur gear

70. third pinion gear

72. third spur gear

74. fourth pinion gear

76. fifth spur gear

78. escapement

80. setting slide

82. slot

84. slot

86. projection

88. projection

90. forward direction

92. reverse direction

94. knob

96. catch

98. cantilevered beam

100. one end

102. right-angled extension

104. lug

106. hook

108. closer side

110. farther side

112. follower

114. setting release button

116. pocket

118 film advance motor

120. cradle slot

122. cradle slot

124. shaft end

126. shaft end

128. combination gear

130. worm gear

132. gear ring

134. face gear

136. toothed periphery

138. projection

140. hole

142. motor on/off switch

144. hole

146. resilient switch contact

148. stationary switch contact

150. lead

152. lead

154. projection

156. hole

158. switch actuator

160. torsion spring

162. projection

164. block-like free end

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera to be used with a film advance motorand/or a self timer, comprising:a main body part having an engageableportion; and a single-piece multi-adapter fixture having an engageableportion constructed to be connected with said engageable portion of saidmain body part to secure said single-piece multi-adapter fixture to saidmain body part, having another separate portion constructed to hold thefilm advance motor, and having another separate portion constructed tohold the self timer, in order to support the film advance motor and/orthe self timer on said main body part to permit said camera to be usedeither with the film advance motor or the self timer or with the filmadvance motor and the self timer.
 2. A camera as recited in claim 1,wherein said portion of said single-piece multi-adapter fixtureconstructed to hold the film advance motor is constructed to release thefilm advance motor, and wherein said portion of said single-piecemulti-adapter fixture constructed to hold the self timer is constructedto release the self timer.
 3. A multi-adapter fixture for supporting afilm advance motor and/or a self timer in a camera, comprising:asingle-piece mount having at least one portion constructed to beconnected with the camera, at least another separate portion constructedto hold the film advance motor, and at least another separate portionconstructed to hold the self timer, in order to support the film advancemotor and/or the self timer in the camera to permit the camera to beused either with the film advance motor or the self timer or with thefilm advance motor and the self timer.
 4. A multi-adapter fixture asrecited in claim 3, wherein said single-piece mount has at least oneportion constructed to be connected with a manual setting device tosupport the setting device for movement along said single-piece mount toset the self timer.
 5. A one-time-use camera comprising a main body parthaving one end portion that defines a cartridge receiving chamber andanother end portion that defines an unexposed film roll chamber, and afilm winding motor located at said end portion that defines thecartridge receiving chamber, is characterized by:a self timer; and amulti-adapter fixture located at said end portion of said main body partthat defines the cartridge receiving chamber, which holds said filmwinding motor and said self timer to support said film winding motor andsaid self timer on said main body part and which is constructed torelease said film winding motor and said self timer to permit said filmwinding motor and said self timer to be recycled after said one-time-usecamera is used.
 6. A method of assembling a camera that has a film drivemotor and a self timer, said method comprising the following steps inany order:connecting a single-piece multi-adapter fixture to a main bodypart of the camera; connecting the film drive motor to the single-piecemulti-adapter fixture; and connecting the self timer to the single-piecemulti-adapter fixture.
 7. A method as recited in claim 6, comprising theadditional step:connecting a manual setting device to the single-piecemulti-adapter fixture to support the setting device for movement alongthe single-piece multi-adapter to set the self timer.
 8. A method asrecited in claim 7, wherein the step of connecting the manual settingdevice to the single-piece multi-adapter fixture is performed after thestep of connecting the self timer to the single-piece multi-adapterfixture.